Welcome back to the Lexington Hills Blog! Today we’re inspired by a TED Talk, “Why I live a zero waste life,” and we’re here to help you find ways to contribute to helping our environment by contributing less! Read on for ideas for eliminating waste in your life, starting in your apartment here in Eagan, MN.
First, find your reason for eliminating waste. Lauren Singer, author of the Zero Waste blog “Trash is for Tossers” and founder of organic cleaning product company The Simply Co., explains in her TED Talk that she started her quest for living a zero-waste life because she realized she wanted her life to line up with the things she was advocating for as an environmental studies student at NYU.
While she made eliminating waste a main part of her life, you should have your own reasons for doing so. Knowing why you want to try is an important first step in this quest because it helps you have an idea for how much you want to do, and where to start. Whether you have passionately studied this topic, you want to cut down on the costs of the things you’re buying, or you want to eat, drink, and shop cleaner, there are plenty of reasons why this is beneficial for anyone. Seriously consider these to develop your own plan.
Cut down on food waste you create (and the excess funds you spend) by eating out. Set aside an hour or two once a week to plan out your meals for the following week. Get creative and see how you can incorporate the foods you already have in an exciting way so you actually want to eat the meals you plan. If this means making something more sugary than “clean,” that’s fine! Do what works for you at the pace that works so you’re eating all of what you have or looking forward to eating leftovers the next day.
Make your own products. This is another one of those things that you can take as far or as lightly as you wish. But it’s easier than you might think! Products that you may already have in your home, like baking soda and vinegar, are key ingredients to cleaning products. Check out these nine homemade cleaning products or this guide to non-toxic home cleaning if you’re unsure of where to start.
What are your best ways to eliminate waste? What are your favorite ways to make your own products or meals? Share your suggestions, inspirations, and ideas with the rest of us by leaving a comment so we can work together to help out our environment. Thanks for reading! Good luck, and have fun!